I will need to have surgery soon.  How can I be sure that I am not overcharged?

Hospitals many times overcharge patients.  Sometimes it is a mistake, but not always.

Therefore, you have to take action to ensure that unnecessary or mistaken charges are not on your bill.  There are several things you can do to keep the costs down to a reasonable level.  For example, if your hospitalization is not an emergency, check your insurance policy to see exactly what it will pay for.  You can also call the hospital and find out what the room charges are going to be, as well as what those charges cover.

For example, if it doesn't include Kleenex, then bring some from home.  One patient was charged $129 for a box, labeled on the bill as a "mucous recovery system."  Another was charged $34 for 2 ounces of Maalox.

Make sure that everyone who will be treating you - the surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist, etc.  - participates in your insurance plan.  

If you can, keep your own log of tests, medications and treatments.  If you are not able to do so, ask a friend or relative to do it for you.

Even though your insurance may pay a great deal on the bill, you may still have a significant portion to pay out.  God wants us to be good stewards of His money, including that which is spent getting us well.